GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's soccer team complete a necessary 90-minute formality by defeating VMI, 7-0, in its Southern Conference opener at the UNCG Soccer Stadium Saturday.
The Spartans scored four goals in the opening 17 minutes to improve to 20-0 all-time against VMI.
How It Happened
- Powering UNCG's offense was Theo Collomb, who notched his first career hat-trick with goals in the fourth, 15th and 40th minutes.
- For good measure, Collomb assisted on goals from Maycol Reyes in the seventh minute and Micah Albert in the 17th minute.
- Chase Gilley took charge in the second half, leading UNCG's offensive barrage with a goal and an assist.
- Theo Quartey also scored for the Spartans, who tallied seven goals in a match for the first time in a match since scoring eight against VMI in 2016.
Inside the Numbers
- This was the most goals scored in a match under third-year head coach Chris Rich.
- Collomb increased his season total to 11 goals, which is tied for the national lead.
- Collomb has 19 career goals.
- In two games this week against Clemson and VMI, Collomb scored five goals and tallied a pair of assists.
- This was Collomb's fourth multi-goal game this season.
- It was the second goal of the season for Albert, Gilley, and Quartey.
- During its five-match unbeaten streak, UNCG has outscored opponents, 21-1.
- UNCG has scored 18 of its 28 goals this season on Saturdays.
- UNCG's 28 goals are among the nation's best.
- Jarrett Payne made his first start of the season.
- Payne finished with a save in the 51st minute.
- This is the fourth time in the last five matches that UNCG has scored at least three goals.
- Joey Skinner collected his team-leading fifth assist of the season on Collomb's first goal.
- This was the Spartans' fifth shutout this season.
- UNCG outshot VMI, 22-2.
- The Spartans outshot Clemson and VMI this week by a combined, 39-8.
- UNCG hasn't allowed a goal to VMI since 2016.
- Nathan Lam and Gavin Miller had shots for the Keydets – both in the second half.
Quotable
UNCG head coach Chris Rich on Collomb's hat-trick.
"I said congrats on his first career hat trick. It's important for him to score goals and important for our team for him to score goals. Great to see him stay in good goal-scoring form. Happy for him to score his first career hat trick here."
On what made Rich happy following the match.
"It was important for us to focus on ourselves and creating good habits. I don't want to be motivated for the opponent. I want to play a certain standard because that's what UNCG soccer does. Happy with the way we approached the game and scoring early. I thought the second half was a few too many turnovers for my liking but that will happen when you make a lot of substitutions. We got to play everyone and rest some guys. Super happy that we took care of business and happy to get three points in conference play."
Up Next
- UNCG visits Coastal Carolina on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. start.
